On Sunday’s episode of Philosophy in Action Radio, Greg Perkins and I answered questions on revealing a checkered past, racist names of sports teams, property owners prohibiting firearms, explaining Facebook unfriendings, and more. The podcast of that episode is now available for streaming or downloading.

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Question: How forthcoming should I be with new people I meet about my checkered past? My past is not a source of pride for me. Over four years ago, I read “Atlas Shrugged.” That book altered the radical change I was already bringing into my life for the better. I’ve recently begun meeting other fans of Ayn Rand in real life, and I dislike discussing my white-trash, moocher-esque history with these new acquaintances. (At the time, I was between 17 and 20 years old.) If I shared my past with these people, I think they might judge me harshly and cut ties with me, given that they don’t know me well. However, given my past, I have a clearer understanding of the irrational, twisted, cruel, and nasty nature of people who choose to live like leeches off of other human beings. I think that sharing these experiences with others can be a source of strength to them. (I don’t want others to stumble into these poor decisions when they could do better!) So how much of my past should I share with other people, and how should I share it?

My Answer, In Brief: A person should be proud of overcoming past mistakes, particularly the moral growing pains of late teens and early 20s, not ashamed. Share that history selectively and discreetly with other people. Good people will value you more for what you’ve made of yourself today.

Question: Should sports teams with racist names change them? Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins has vowed never to the team’s name, insisting that it stands for bravery. I’ve read conflicting reports about polls of Native Americans. Some are offended, and some don’t care. It appears that D.C. area politicians and various academics looking to make names for themselves are leading the charge to change the name, and they seem to have much to gain thereby. Personally, I am not offended by the name, but I wouldn’t go onto a reservation and address the people there as “redskins.” While the name may be racist and offensive to some, is that a sufficient reason to change it?

My Answer, In Brief: The term “redskin” is a racial epithet, yet it’s not used in an offensive way by the Washington Redskins. Given that team’s use of the name doesn’t promote racism or bullying, the name shouldn’t be changed as any kind of moral imperative. However, that doesn’t mean that the name should be staunchly defended either. Moral fervor on this issue is seriously misplaced.

Question: Should a person respect signs prohibiting guns in certain areas? Some businesses and government offices announce that firearms are prohibited in the building, yet no screening is conducted to ensure that firearms are excluded. In such “pretend gun-free zones,” law-abiding people will disarm, while criminals and other dangerous or careless people will not. Is this a violation of a person’s right to self-defense? Should people refuse to disarm in face of such signs?

My Answer, In Brief: A person’s right to self-defense is not violated when a property owner forbids guns on his property. The property owner is entitled to set the terms for his property, and if others don’t approve, they can stay away.

Question: Does a person owe others an explanation for unfriending them on Facebook? I’m “friends” with many people on Facebook who I can’t stand and with whom I would never willingly spend time in real life. I’ve purged many Facebook friends I didn’t really know and/or who’ve contributed nothing of value to my life, all for the better. Now I am considering whether to unfriend former lovers and one-time real life friends from my youth for a host of insurmountable reasons – for example, our politics don’t jive, I’m annoyed by seeing endless photos of their pets, and so on. Odds are I will never have any dealings with these people again, mostly because I don’t want to. Do I owe them an explanation for the unfriending?

My Answer, In Brief: It’s perfectly fine to unfriend people on Facebook when you’re not interested in keeping up with them, yet you need not and should not be mean about it.

Conclusion

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Philosophy in Action Radio focuses on the application of rational principles to the challenges of real life. It broadcasts live on most Sunday mornings and many Thursday evenings over the internet. For information on upcoming shows, visit the Episodes on Tap. For podcasts of past shows, visit the Show Archives.

Explore Atlas Shrugged

Do you want to better understand and appreciate Ayn Rand's epic novel Atlas Shrugged? Explore Atlas Shrugged -- my in-depth course consisting of a podcast series, study questions, and other resources -- will help you do that.